Betsileo Bright Eyed Frog

F 35-36 mm, M distinctly smaller. Tibiotarsal articulation reaches the eye. Hand with a trace of webbing, foot webbing 1(0), 2i(1), 2e(0), 3i(1.5), 3e(0), 4i/e(2), 5(0.5). Dorsal skin smooth. Males with a weakly distensible single subgular vocal sac. Dorsally yellowish or dark brown, typically with a white stripe along the upper lip. Ventral surface of hindlimbs, thighs, and webbing red. Throat in males and females with a typical dark-light marbling. Similar species: Several other species such as B. miniatus, B. picturatus and B. majori occur in the same region and have reddish colour on their limbs as well. The two undescribed following species are most similar to B. rhodoscelis and morphological characters for their distinction still need to be identified.Taken with permission from Glaw and Vences (2007).

Ambohimitombo, Andasibe, Andrangoloaka, Angavokely, Ankafana, Antananarivo, Antratrabe, Farihimazava, Moramanga, Ranomafana, Ranomafanakely, Tsarafidy. Observed at elevations from 900 to 1500m. It inhabits rainforest and open grassland close to forest fragments (Andreone et al. 2008).

Calls: A long and fast series of unharmonious notes that gets more intense as the call progresses. Reminds the call of Boophis elenae but is less intense and at higher frequency. We observed males in rainforest bordering a large exposed swampy area, calling at night from low and hidden perches, 10-50 cm high. Breeding occurs in streams and brooks (Andreone et al. 2008).

Near Threatened: it relies on streams in montane habitats, and so its area of occupancy is probably not much greater than 2,000 km2, and the extent and quality of its habitat is declining, thus making the species close to qualifying for vulnerable. It occurs in Parc National de Ranomafana, and probably in several other protected areas, including those near Andasibe (Andreone et al. 2008).

Boophis rhodoscelis is a species of frog in the family Mantellidae.

It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, subtropical or tropical high-altitude grassland, and rivers. It is threatened by habitat loss.